Armed Man Resists Arrest at the Poverello Center in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On January 12, 2026, a Missoula Police Department Officer responded to a report that 29-year-old Michael Helmick was harassing others at the Poverello Center. The officer arrived on scene and located an individual whose appearance matched a booking photograph of Helmick, who was subject to an active warrant out of the Missoula Municipal Court.  

The officer pointed to this person, who was seated in a vehicle, and said he needed to speak with “Michael.” The individual, later confirmed to be Michael Helmick, stated that he was “not Mike” and that Michael had left. The officer asked Helmick to exit the vehicle and provide identification.  

Helmick crawled over to the driver’s side of the vehicle and became verbally confrontational. The officer told Helmick that he was under arrest and would be removed from the vehicle. Another officer arrived on scene, and Helmick agreed to exit the vehicle.  

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Helmick stated that he had a firearm on his person. The officer grabbed Helmick’s wrist, and Helmick stated that he could not be arrested and that the warrant was false. Helmick stiffened his arms in an effort to keep officers from securing him in handcuffs. The officer told Helmick that he would shoot him if he reached for the firearm. According to court documents, Helmick tried to pull away from the officer’s grip while stating, “Please do.”  

The officer took Helmick to the ground and placed his wrist in a wrist lock to resolve the situation. Helmick was briefly searched, and officers located a .22 revolver, two knives, a glass pipe, and a butane torch consistent with methamphetamine or fentanyl paraphernalia, a black marijuana dispensary container, a sunglasses container, and other personal items.  

As Helmick was rolled over, officers noted that he had urinated himself and was unresponsive. Officers determined Helmick had a pulse and was breathing. While officers were moving Helmick to provide medical aid, the marijuana containers opened. Inside was a light brown powder/granular substance, which resembled fentanyl based on the officers’ training and experience. The substance was NIK tested and showed positive for fentanyl, but a later TruNarc scan was inconclusive. 

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

Helmick was transported to St. Patrick’s Hospital and administered a CT scan, which found no signs of physical injury. While en route to the hospital, paramedics administered Narcan to Helmick because they believed he was showing symptoms of a drug overdose. 

After being cleared at the hospital, Helmick was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, attempted obstructing a peace officer, and resisting arrest. His bond was set at $3,000. 

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.